man i swear this makes me want this game so bad why did i buy a wii when i had the urge to do so!

Quote :

"Manhunt 2 receives AO rating ESRB tags Rockstar sequel with Adults Only initial rating; Take-Two now exploring its options. By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot Posted Jun 19, 2007 2:44 pm PT Earlier today, the British Board of Film Classification gave Manhunt 2 a thumbs down, banning it from sale in the UK due to its "unremitting bleakness" and "casual sadism." Now it appears the Entertainment Software Rating Board is ready to hand down its own most restrictive rating to the latest controversial offering from Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games. A Take-Two representative told GameSpot today that the ESRB has issued an initial rating of AO for Adults Only to Manhunt 2. While not an outright ban, the rating would severely limit a game's sales potential, as most major American retailers have chosen not to carry games rated AO. As for the reason this is only an "initial" rating, when the ESRB rates a game, it notifies the publisher 30 days prior to publicly releasing its decision. This gives publishers unhappy with ratings the chance to either modify their games and resubmit them for a second assessment, or go before the ESRB's appeals board to challenge it directly. "We believe the process of rating video games is to help people make informed entertainment choices and not to limit them," a Take-Two representative said. "Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive an M (Mature) rating, aligning it with similar content created in other forms of media. We are exploring our options with regard to the rating of Manhunt 2." While Take-Two doesn't agree with the idea of an AO-rated Manhunt 2, one parent watchdog group believes it's only appropriate. Earlier today, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood demanded that the ESRB give Manhunt 2 an AO rating, saying that "harmful effects of ultra-violent video games on children will be magnified by playing them on the interactive Nintendo Wii system." The group's announcement contained a statement from Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston, who explained, "The content of Manhunt 2 and the unique physical interaction with the Wii control combine to take [the game's simulation] a level closer to reality--we can expect that the effects of this experience will be even greater." The group directed like-minded individuals to contact ESRB president Patricia Vance with their concerns, and Vance today issued her response. "We have received the letter from CCFC and, while we might take issue with some of the statements made within, we sincerely appreciate their expressed concerns," Vance said. "Our ratings are intended to provide guidance that allows parents to choose games they deem suitable for their children, and that is a responsibility we take extremely seriously." Manhunt 2 is currently slated for a July 10 release on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. "

6/20/2007 10:40:19 AM

i bet you beat someone to death in the game using the Wiimote.

6/20/2007 10:43:54 AM

i bet you saw can off a head, probably stab, cut throats, emasculate, garrote, etc etc...

6/20/2007 10:46:38 AM

Quote :

"as most major American retailers have chosen not to carry games rated AO"

This is what I don't understand. Why don't they do this? This doesn't mean that they HAVE to carry porno games, but it would allow them to carry stuff like Manhunt 2 or GTA even though they get those ratings.

6/20/2007 11:51:58 AM

^I prefer they don't carry them. Because parents are retarded when it comes to game ratings. If it's for sale and little Timmy wants it, they're going to buy it. Then later down the road when little Timmy has severe emotional problems and starts microwaving pets, the parents blame video games.

6/20/2007 12:10:05 PM

^ thats so stupid if you are not trolling

FYI, if i was a developer on this project my dick would be so hard right now because our shit is too gangsta for those bitches

6/20/2007 12:23:52 PM

gg Uk. Not trolling or kidding. People that think things like this don't effect society are only kidding themselves.

[Edited on June 20, 2007 at 12:38 PM. Reason : -]

6/20/2007 12:36:59 PM

first game was too boring to play im afraid. this one might be a little more interesting if they get the gestures right.

6/20/2007 12:39:22 PM

zombie patch coming up

6/20/2007 12:40:08 PM

^^^ what doesn't have an effect on society?

...

thats the point.

[Edited on June 20, 2007 at 12:46 PM. Reason : asdfg]

6/20/2007 12:46:17 PM

Quote :

"gg Uk. Not trolling or kidding. People that think things like this don't effect society are only kidding themselves."

Are you serious? It's not the responsibility of the video game industry to monitor what kids play, it's the parents responsibility. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas was an incredibly violent, sexist game to play, but you know what? It was fun as hell. Mature adults can handle these games and they should have the right to be able to purchase them.

6/20/2007 1:00:24 PM

^ding ding ding.

the solution starts with parenting. not censorship.

6/20/2007 1:15:50 PM

^well said *golf clap and approving nod*

6/20/2007 2:16:00 PM

Quote :

"^ding ding ding. the solution starts with parenting. not censorship."

first thing ive ever agreed with you on.

6/20/2007 2:17:53 PM

definitely agree here.

why the fuck should adults suffer for other people being shitty parents? i definitely think the rating system is good and it should definitely be enforced, but if parents still buy the games for their children when it's clearly marked :"adults only" then that is nobody's fault but their own. in fact, if they did end up having fucked up kids and tried to blame that, i would say the appropriate response would be to punish the parents rather than resort to censorship. after all, they're responsible for their kids and are most likely the ones that bought them the game in the first place.

6/20/2007 6:22:37 PM

IF YOU GUYS HAD GOOD PARENTS, YOU WOULDN'T LIKE THESE DEPLORABLE, VIOLENT GAMES SO MUCH

haha j/k

i'll always love mario the best though

6/20/2007 6:54:45 PM

nintendo and sony dont allow AO games

6/20/2007 8:41:48 PM

Quote :

""Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board," a representative told GameSpot. "We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment.""

This really sucks

6/21/2007 6:26:35 PM

I see an unedited PC release in the future.

I'm not a fan of censorship, but the game sounds basically like a snuff film. Rockstar knew what they were getting into when they developed it.

6/21/2007 6:51:36 PM

^ Yep

You release a game like that, and you KNOW shit like this is gonna happen. I don't feel sorry for Rockstar. Besides, if an adult wants to purchase a game(even in the UK) they can do so online. Problem solved.

I doubt Rockstar will get much sympathy from the public, they chose to make a game like that and knew the laws and rating systems of the countries they wanted to sell in.

6/21/2007 7:44:34 PM

they hsoulda made night trap 2. i wanna drill some bitches heads in with the wiimote.

6/21/2007 7:59:03 PM

here are downloadable content for manhunt 2
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172940.html?tag=latestnews;title;1

Quote :

" Manhunt 2 Hands-On Preview Rockstar Games locked us in a darkened room for a first play of the controversial Manhunt 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Wii. By Ricardo Torres, Guy Cocker, GameSpot Posted Jun 21, 2007 5:45 pm PT Manhunt 2 is Rockstar Games' bloody follow-up to the 2003 snuff classic that has found itself in the middle of a firestorm even greater than the one conjured by its predecessor. While the stealthy gameplay of the original may have been nothing new, the style and subject matter of Manhunt made it one of the most mature games ever to hit the gaming world. While controversy always surrounded the game, it definitely didn't do any harm to its sales, so it was perhaps inevitable that Rockstar would produce a sequel. However, in its attempt to top the first game, Rockstar has opened up a big can of worms that has led to this week's recent drama. Back before everything hit the fan, we had the chance to get a proper hands-on with work-in-progress versions of the PlayStation 2 and Wii incarnations of the game. What we played then appeared to be an engaging sequel that was indeed poised to outdo the original. Guns for show, gasoline for a pro. For the PlayStation 2 demo, Rockstar showed off a new level called sexual deviants, which saw the main character Danny infiltrating a fetish club. If you've played the previous Manhunt you should be aware of the incredibly dark themes that the original game touched on, and the fact that it was more or less an interactive snuff film was really only the beginning. So the fact that the sequel features a level where a human torture center is masquerading as an extreme sex club is pretty much par for the course. The setup for the level revolves around main character Danny following a hunch after finding a set of matches with the sex club's address and going over for a look. Note that the excursion is just part of Danny's journey to piece together his fractured past, not to get his cheap thrill on. The level starts around the side of the club, and as you explore, it soon becomes obvious that you need to break a window to gain entry. Debris can be used to break most of the glass in the game, though in creating a noise you can often alert nearby enemies to your presence. As with the previous Manhunt, noise will draw interest from the surrounding enemies, but this can be of benefit if you want to create a distraction. Hiding in the shadows is usually a safe way of staying out of view, but Manhunt 2 now introduces quicktime events if someone starts to become suspicious. If an enemy peers into the shadows, you sometimes have to hit a few buttons to "hold your breath," as it were, and if you make the right combos you'll remain hidden. On the PS2, the controls remain largely unchanged since the previous Manhunt. Push the left analog stick to its extremity and Danny will walk, but push it gently and he will creep. When you stand still, the right analog controls the camera, and the designers have chosen to largely restrict the camera in order to keep the game more suspenseful. If you're pushed up against a wall and go to the edge, the right stick can also be used to discreetly poke your head out and peer around the corner. The L1 button can be used to sprint, but it creates noise and will alert any enemies in the vicinity. Because the syringe is a relatively flimsy weapon you'll only get to use it once. Once inside the club, the first kill that we were able to pull off was one of the new environmental executions. These occur when enemies are standing next to something that can be used to kill them, such as a rope, a fuse box, or, in this case, a toilet. Our first victim was an unfortunate man in a gimp mask, who had his face introduced to a toilet in a number of painful ways. As well as environmental kills, there are puzzles that require you to dispatch people in certain ways. For example, to gain entry into the torture chamber, you have to show the guard a recognizable face. Predictably, this involves removing someone's head with an axe and then holding it up to the window. Of course, standard kills remain the most frequent type of kills in Manhunt 2, and there's a variety of weapons to choose from as you progress through the game. Fragile items such as glass shards and syringes can be used only a single time, while buzz saws and hammers can be used multiple times. The method of killing in Manhunt 2 is pretty much identical to that in the original. Danny must approach his victims from behind in order to stay unnoticed and perform a clean kill, and when he is within range he will raise his arm. Pressing the square button will perform an immediate kill, but holding it down will produce an even gorier finishing move. The longer you hold down the button, an onscreen reticle will turn from yellow to red, with the latter color indicating the most gruesome kill available. Manhunt 2 also brings guns into the mix, although none were on offer in this particular level. It's also possible to jump off ledges and perform flying kills, although finding the combination of a raised platform and an unsuspecting bad guy was quite rare on the sexual deviants level. The sexual deviants level is split more or less into two parts, the first in which you're making your way through the club and the second in which you discover the strange experiments happening behind the scenes. The first part is made easier thanks to the loud club music, so you can run around the main area without being heard. The assembled freaks mutter the occasional darkly funny line like, "He is so ungrateful for my love, sometimes I just want to strangle him," and the dance music fits in perfectly with the setting. However, downstairs things become even more extreme, with the human experimentation and torture looking like something out of the movie Hostel. However, there are environmental kills aplenty, with wire cutters and electricity offering some particularly gruesome opportunities to take out the torturers. Just as in real-life, sometimes getting past a doorman calls for drastic measures. The Wii demo of the game showed off the same levels plus the intriguing best friends level, where Danny has a flashback to his past life, a narrative device that works well. This particular flashback differs a bit in that it offers a red flag on Danny's sanity. Yes, we're aware he's not the poster boy for mental health, but, without spoiling too much, we'll say that Danny Boy may not have been that sane to begin with. The big feature in the Wii demo was the game's control scheme, which made smart use of the system's controller. The basic system was laid out on the controller pretty much how you'd expect. Melee combat is performed by waving the remote left and right. The big hook to the action is the way the controller is used during the various kills. You'll now have to actively follow onscreen motions that approximate your actions. Throwing a chair? Hold the Wii Remote and analog stick as if you've got the chair in your hands and move it accordingly. Stabbing someone? Jab that Wii Remote. The kills we saw typically involved three steps that varied according to the level of the kill. In addition, the minigame for hiding in the shadows requires you to follow onscreen prompts in order to stay unseen. The system is a cool use of the controller and gives the game a good, unsettling feel that works well with its story. The visuals in both games were good for their respective platforms. The PlayStation 2 game obviously looked a bit blocky, but it had a good assortment of special effects and filters to dress it up. The models and environments were well done by PlayStation 2 standards, along the lines of Bully, but they don't challenge the best seen on the system, like God of War 2. The Wii game obviously had the edge in visuals, with a sharper overall look and solid frame rate. The game's widescreen support also helps give the cinematics that tell its story a nice kick. The audio in both games was still coming along but seemed to be headed in a polished direction. The areas we saw had their moody atmosphere set by strong, ambient audio with a smattering of music peppered throughout. The voice was well done and really sold a lot of the more gruesome moments. Manhunt 2, hopefully coming to a store near you. Based on what we played, Manhunt 2 is shaping up to be a solid, intriguing follow-up to the original. The game's violence and gore, which have become the mother of all lightning rods for the title, are in full effect. But, while they've been ramped up from the original game, they're not exactly going to wreck Western civilization any more than, say, the Saw and Hostel movies--or just about any other of the slasher flicks that come in and out of vogue. What we saw was graphic for sure, and given a slightly unsettling twist by the interactivity offered by the Wii game, but ultimately it's nothing we haven't seen before in other games, movies, or even some television. We're curious to see the form Manhunt 2 ends up taking should Rockstar make changes to get a more retail-friendly rating. The game's violence is part of the dark story it's telling, not an element tossed in for shock value. If films such as Seven or Reservoir Dogs had been toned down, they arguably wouldn't have told the same stories. Hopefully Rockstar can figure something out and keep the game's dark vision intact. We'll keep you posted as Manhunt 2 is prepared for release. -GameSpot"

6/22/2007 9:27:58 AM